Track-laying tractor.



R. H. WHITE.

TRACK LAYING TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28. 1918.

1,275,344. Patented Aug. 13, 191.8.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

R. H. WHITE.

TRACK LAYING TRACTOR.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. 28. I918. l ,275, 344. Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

,EZUGTZZAOIP ww it Tfww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROLLIN H. WHITE, 01 CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELANDTRACTOR COMPANY, OF EUCLID, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TRACK-LAYING TRACTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 28, 1918. Serial No. 214,189.

lowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention is an improvement upon track laying tractors of the typedisclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,253,319.

Tractors of this sort are generally used in the open, and through sand,soft loam, dust and mud. The problem of keeping the working parts of themachinery properly lubricated and free of dirt, dust and mud has been aserious one for the constructors of tractors of this general type. Thepresent invention is believed to be a satisfactory solution of thisproblem, so far as concerns the driving sprocket and the drivingmechanism therefor.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of partsshown in the drawing and hereinafter described and definitely pointedout in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fi re 1 is a side elevation of a tractor in w ich theinvention is embodied; Fig. 2 is a diametrical vertical section throughthe upper two-thirds (about) of one driving sprocket, and shows alsosome adjacent parts; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of Fig.2;Fig. 4 is a sectional View in the plane indicated by line 44 on Fig. 2,and Fig. 5 is a sectional view looking upward of a small segment of thetop part of the sprocket, the

section being in the plane of line 55 on Fig. 2.

The tractor shown in the drawing is substantially like that which isshown in the above mentioned prior patent in many respects. It includesa main frame 10 for supporting the motor and much of the powertransmitting mechanism. A nonrotating axle 14 is fixed to and projectslaterally from each side of the main frame.

On each side of the main frame and hung upon the projecting end of theaxle is a traction frame re resented as an entirety by 20. Interposebetween the front ends of these traction frames and the main frame 16 bywhich the front end of is a sprin ame is supported. Each trac! the maintion frame consists of two parallel built up beams 21, 22, which areconnected together at their front end by a yoke 23, and are likewiseconnected between their ends by several cross bars 20*. Two journalboxes 24 and 25 are associated with each traction frame, and arerotatably mounted upon the projecting end of the nonrotating axle 14.These two journal boxes are respectively fixed to the tops of angleirons 21 and 22 which respectively form the top members of the two builtup beams 21, 22, which are parts of each traction frame.

A casing 30 is fixed to the main frame for housing the differentialmechanism (not shown). An alined laterally extended driving shaft 33extends through the housing on each side of the machine, and projectsout of the housing, and has a pinion 32 fixed to its outer end.

A driving sprocket 40 is rotatably mounted upon the axle 14 between thetwo built up side beams 21, 22, of each traction frame, and thissprocket carries an internal ring gear 41 with which the associatedpinion 32 engages, whereby the sprocket may be rotated. An idler wheel42 is rotatively mounted in the front end of each traction frame,between the two side beams thereof; and the linked track belt 15 runsover the sprocket 40 and idler 42.

The above mentioned parts are generically like the corresponding partsshown and described in said prior patent; but in the construct-ion shownin said prior application there are no means provided for preventing thedirt, mud, dust, etc., from getting into the sprocket wheel and lodgingupon the ring gear or the driving pinion therefor, and there is noadequate means for keeping the bearings of said sprocket free from dirtor dust. The present invention relates to the means for accomplishingthis desirable result.

Each sprocket wheel is formed as shown, of a casting having as integralparts an outside annular disk 40 and integral concentric hub 4O whichprojects inward from said disk, and an annular cylindrical flange flange+l0 at the inner edge thereof. These conical surfaces need not fit eachother nicely but should be close to one another to prevent any largeparticles of dirt from getting to the oil and dust proof joint now to bedescribed.

This disk has a centrally disposed hole around which is a cylindricalflange 51 that nicely fits upon a cylindrical boss '25" formed on theoutside end of the inner journal box 25. Therefore when the tractionframe 20 oscillates upon the axle 1'-.l and the journal box moves withsaid tract-ion frame, the journal box will continue to make asubstantially dust and oil tight joint with plate 50 which has nomovement relatively to the main frame because it is secured to thehousing 30.

60 represents an annular cupped felt washer, that is a flat annularwasher whose outer margin 60 is bent into substantially cylindrical formand fitted against the cylindrical inner face of the flange 40.

represents a spring metal annulus whose outer periphery is bent intosubstantially cylindrical form, and is notched to thereby form amultitude of spring fingers 7 0 which when the spring annulus and feltwasher are assembled and connected as shown, will engage the innerperiphery of the cylindrical part 60 of the felt washer, and press ittightly into engagement with flange 40 and make an oil and dust tightjoint. An annular rib 50 is formed on the outer face of disk 50. Thespring annulus 7 0 is placed against this; the felt washer is placedagainst the annulus 70, and a flat clamping ring is placed against thefelt washer, and these three parts are secured by rivets or the like tothe face of the rib 50". The multitude of springs keep the margin of thefelt washer in oil and dust tight contact with the flange 40;v and theycontinue to do this until the felt is entirely worn out.

A similar cupped felt washer 80 is secured in an annular recess in theouter face of the sprocket adjacent the hub thereof, and the cylindricalpart 80 of this cupped felt washer bears upon a cylindrical boss 24*formed on the inner face of the journal box 24. A flat spring ring 81 isalso clamped in this recess against the felt washer, but its innerportion is bent outward and it is slitted to make a multitude of smallspring tongues 81', each of which bears upon the cylindrical part of thefelt washer and keeps it pressed against the cylindrical boss 24.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the tractionframe may oscillate as required upon axle it, relatively to both themain frame and sprocket. and that the sprocket may be driven as wellwhen the traction frame is oscillating as when it is not, and that noneof these relative movements tend to render the dust and oil tight jointsinoperative, and that therefore the hollow sprocket may contain at alltimes an adequate supply of oil to keep its bearings lubricated and tokeep the intermeshing ring gear and pinionllll)l'lt'i\t(tl,\\itllolitdanger of the entry of dust or mud into saidwheel chamber.

Having described my invention,I claim 1. In a track laying tractor, thecombination of a main frame, a nonrot ating axle fixed thereto andextending transversely thereof, a traction frame comprising twoconnected side beams. a journal box fixed to each of said side beams androtatably mounted on said axle, a. driving sprocket wheel comprising anoutside disk and a hub which extends inward therefrom and is rotatablymounted on said axle between said side beams and a concentriccylindrical flange, a disk which is fixed to a part carried by the mainframe, means for making an oil and dust tight joint between said flangeand disk, the inner journal box referred to having a cylindrical boss onits outer face, and said disk having a cylindrical central opening whichnicely fits said cylindrical boss, and the outside journal box having acylindrical boss on its inner face, means for making an oil and dustproof joint between said sprocket wheel and said last mentionedcylindrical boss, an internal gear ring fixed within the cylindricalflange of the sprocket.

wheel, a driving shaft mounted on the main frame and extending throughsaid disk, and a pinion fixed to said driving shaft in mesh with saidinternal gear.

2. In a track laying tractor, the combination of a main frame, atransversely extended axle carried thereby, a traction frame comprisingtwo connected side beams, a journal box mounted on said axle and fixedto the outer side beam of the traction frame, and

and the cylindrical boss on the outside tat journal box, a shaft housingfixed to the main frame, a driving shaft mounted in and projecting fromsaid housing, a pinion on the projecting end of said shaft, an internalgear ring fixed within the flange of the sprocket wheel in mesh withsaid pinion, and an annular disk which is rotatably mounted on thecylindrical boss of the innor journal box and is fixed to the outer endof said housing and is fitted within and has a dust and oil tight jointwith the cylindrical flange of the sprocket.

3. In a track laying tractor, the combination with a main frame, atransversely extended axle fixed thereto, a shaft housing fixed to saidmain frame, a driving shaft mounted within and projecting from saidhousing, a pinion fixed to the projecting end of said shaft, a drivingsprocket comprising a hub which is rotatably mounted on said axle,

a concentric cylindrical flange, and a disk which connects and closesthe space between the outer end of said hub and the outer edge of saidflange, an internal gear ring fixed within said flange in engagementwith said pinion, an annular disk which is fixed to the end of saidshaft housing and is fitted within and has an oil and dust proof jointwithin the cylindrical flange of said sprocket.

4. In a track laying tractor, the combination with the main frame, atransversely ex' tended axle fixed thereto, a shaft housing fixed tosaid main frame, a driving shaft mounted within and projecting from saidhousing, a pinion fixed to the projecting end of said shaft, a drivingsprocket comprisin a hub which is rotatably mounted on said axle, aconcentric cylindrical flange, and a disk which connects and closes thespace between the outer end of said hub and the outer edge of saidflange, an internal gear ring fixed within said flange in enga ementwith said pinion, an annular disk'w ich is fixed to the end of saidshaft housing and is within a cylindrical flange of said sprocket,

a cupped felt washer fixed to said disk and formed with a substantiallycylindrical outer portion which fits within said cylindrical flange, anda plurality of independently acting springs exerting outward pressureagainst the cylindrical part of said felt washer.

5. In a track laying tractor, the combinat ion with the main frame, atransversely extended axle fixed thereto, a shaft housing fixed to saidmain frame, a driving shaft mounted within and projecting. from said.housing, a pinion fixed to the projecting end of said shaft, a drivinsprocket comprising a hub which is IOtfitEfiJlY mounted on said axle, aconcentric cylindrical flange, and a disk which connects and closes thespace between the outer end of said hub and the outer edge of saidflange, an internal gear ring fixed within said flan e in engagementwith said pinion, an annu ar disk which is fixed to the end of saidshaft housing and is fitted within the o lindrical fla'nge of saidsprocket a cupped elt washer fixed to said disk and having itscylindrical portion fitted into the cylindrical flange of said sprocketwheel, an annular disk of spring metal fixed to said disk having itsouter edge bent into substantially cylindrical form and notched to forma multitude of outwardly pressing springs which engage the cylindr calportion of said felt washer and yieldingly press it into engagement withthe cylindrical flange.

6. In a track laying tractor, the combination with the main frame, atransversely extended axle fixed thereto, a shaft housing fixed to saidmain frame, a driving shaft mounted within and projecting from saidhousing, a pinion fixed to the projecting end of saidshaft, a drivingsprocket comprising a hub which is rotatably mounted on said axle, aconcentric cylindrical flange, and a disk which connects and closestheispace between the outer end of said hub and the outer edge of saidflan e, an internal gear ring fixed within said ange in engagement withsaid pinion, an annular disk which is fixed to the end of said shafthousing and arranged within said cylindrical flange, a felt washer fixedto one of the last mentioned ROLLIN H. WHITE.

'parts and engaging the other, and a pluy

